Not really about food or books... (Steph)

I know this has nothing to do with food, or reading books, but I thought I would share our copy of the family portrait we took while we were all together on Christmas.

You know how the first time we didn't get Dorthy?  Well, this time it looks like we didn't get Bridget.  I would have said, "let's do it again," but I don't think Dad would have gone for it.  He gets so testy when someone makes him get his picture taken. :)

Despite this oversight, I think they turned out pretty good.

p.s. Mel has them on her blog as well.

Granola Bars with hidden stuff (Mom)

Charles and Sarah tend to run out the door before they can get something to eat for breakfast.  They don't mind granola and granola bars, so I had been buying them.  The cost of those little granola bars was beginning to mount, especially when to feel satified you have to eat 2 or 3 of them.  So I began to look for some granola bars to make at home.  I came across a few of them, some you bake; some  you don't and I began to experiment.  They all have oats and peanut butter which is fine.  Some other ones had different kinds of cereal and nuts and such.  Here's what I have come up with, combining a few recipes together.

Granola Bars
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup butter, melted ( butter works best)
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup oats
1/4 cup sunflower kernels
3 Tbsp. toasted wheat germ
1 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1 1/2 cup crispy rice cereal
The following ingredients are optional:
     1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
     1/4 cup coconut
     1/4 cup raisins
     1/4 cup dried cranberries
     1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

In a mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, peanut butter, corn syrup, butter and vanilla.  Stir in the flour, oats, rice cereal, sunflower seeds, wheat germ and sesame seeds.  Fold in any or all of the optional ingredients.
Press into a 9x13 pan that has been oiled or sprayed with nonstick spray.  Bake at 350* for 15-20 minutes.  Check at 15 and don't over bake.  Cool in the pan on a wire rack.  Cut into bars while still kind of warm.  When cooled, remove from pan and store in a tin or plastic container.

(Originally, there was no flour in the recipe but I was watching  the create channel and one of the chefs put flour in her cereal bars.  It helps to keep the bars together-acts as a binder.)

I took some to the hospital when Bridget was born last week for Tim and Mel to munch on.  I think Mel ate most of them, so I was making some more the other night when they were here, and forgot the rice cereal.  I told Tim that I had.  He said "What other stuff do you hide in the granola bars?"  Therefore, the hidden stuff.